Mechanical animal



June 7, 19381 J, KURELIC 2,120,102

MECHANI CAL ANIMAL Filed Oct. 8, 1937 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR uoszF KuRzuc ATTORNEY June 7, 1938. J. KURELIC MECHANICAL ANIMAL Filed Oct. 8, 1937 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR 55F KURELIC BY ATTORNEY Patented June 7, 1938 a UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,120,102 MECHANICAL ANIMAL Josef Kurelic, Philadelphia, Pa. Application October 8, 1937, Serial No. 167,876 Claims. (01. 280-117) This invention relates to new and useful imthe right, or towards the left, to accomplish the provements in a mechanical animal. steering. A seat It for the user of the device is The invention has for an object the construcarranged over the animals back and is mounted tion of a mechanical animal which is adapted to on-a vertical rod l! which threadedly engages in a 5- be ri y a p n for p r and xcer i esupport l8 mounted on the frame section ll 5 The construction is such that the mechanical A drive shaft [9 is supported upon the frame animal will go through various gymnastics for section N and extends transversely thereof. exercising the rider. This drive shaft is provided with foot pedals 20.

Another object of the invention is the construc- A sprocket 2! is fixed upon the drive shaft I9 10. tion of a device as mentioned which is simple and and connects with a chain 22 extending over the 1 durable and which may be manufactured and sprocket 23 fixed on a rear shaft 24. This rear sold at a reasonable cost. shaft is rotatively mounted in the rear portion of For further comprehension of the invention, the frame section M The ends of the shaft 24 and of the objects and advantages thereof, referare provided with cranks 25 connecting with links l5; ence will be had to the following description and 26 associated with the top ends of hind leg levers accompanying drawings, and to the appended 21. These hind leg levers are pivotally mounted claims in which the various novel features of the intermediate of their ends at the points 28 upon invention are more particularly set forth. the rearframe section and are maintained in a Fig. 1 is a vertical sectional view of a mechanineutral position by springs 2'l connected with the cal animal constructed according to this invenframe section II. 20 tion. The upper ends of the levers 21 are formed with Fig. 2 is a horizontal sectional view taken on elongated slots 29, see Fig. l, in which pins from the line 2-,2 of Fig. 1 the links 26 engage. The lower ends of the levers Fig. 3 is a fragmentary enlarged vertical sec- 21 pivotally connect at the points 30 with levers tional View taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1. 3| pivotally supported at their upper ends 32 25 Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken on the-line 4-4 upon braces 33 attached on the frame section I l of Fig. 3. The lower ends of the levers 3! are pivotally con- Fig. 5 is a fragmentary enlarged sectional view nected with blocks 34 attached to the hind legs taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 1. of the figure. Rods 35 are pivotallyattached at Fig. 6 is an enlarged detailed View of a portion their top ends upon the braces 33 and extend 30 of Fig. 1. substantially parallel to the rods 3| and at the Fig. 7 is an enlarged detailed view of another lower ends are pivotally connected with the hoof portion of Fig. 1. portions 36' of the figure. These hoof portions Fig. 8 is a fragmentary elevational view looking are provided with rearward extending ratchets in the direction of the line 8-8 of Fig. '7. 31 allowing free forward motion, but interfering .35

The mechanical animal, according to this inwith free rearward motion.- Casters 38 are vention, comprises ahollow animal figure ill. of mounted upon the bottom of the rear legs to rigid material having a neck portion Ill and facilitate their movements along the ground. A legs lo flexibly constructed at the joints. The bevel gear 40' is mounted on the transverse shaft 40 arrangement allows the neck to be moved later- 24 and meshes with a bevel gear 4! upon a longi- 40 ally and the legs to bend at the knees and at the tudinal shaft 42 which isrotatively supportedon I junction with the body. the frame. This longitudinal shaft is connected A frame H is mounted within the figure [0 by a universal joint 43 with a small extension and consists of a rigid front portion ll swivelly shaft piece 42', see Fig. 2. The extension shaft connected with a rigid rear portion M The i2 is provided with a bevel gear 44 meshing 45 swivel connection between these frame sections with a bevel gear 45 upon a transverse front shaft are in the vicinity of the neck portion of the 46. This front shaft is rotatively supported in animal, which arrangement provides for the the front frame section H The universal 43 lateral movement of the animals neck and head. permits a relative bending of the shaftsections,

A vertical shaft 12 serves as the pintle for the as is required for the proper motion of the neck 50 swivel connection of the frame sections. A steerand head of the animal figure. I ing handle 13 is attached upon a vertical shaft 'The'ends of the shaft 46 are provided with [4 secured on an offset lug l5 which is mounted cranks 41 which are pivotally connected with upon the shaft l2. The arrangement is such that links 48. The free ends. of the links 48 have the handle 13 may be moved pivotally towards pins 49, see Fig.1, engaging in elongated slots 55 The rider sits on the legs of the animal.

55. This flexible frame section extends up' from.

the front legs into the neck area and is resiliently connected with the frame section I l by a T- shape support 55" and springs 55*.

A support link 56 is interposed between the flexible frame section 55 and the link 48. The

link 56 is pivotally connected with these parts.

The lower ends of the levers 53 are pivotally mounted on blocks 58 secured within the front Rods 59 are pivotally connected at their upper ends upon braces '60 pivotally connected withthe levers 53 and connecting the flexible frame 55 by. pins 60 working in slots 60 These rods. 59, pivotally connect with the front hoofs 6|, The front hoofs 6| are also provided with ratchets 31 and casters 3 8. A radial support piece 62 is attached upon the head of the animal and is supported at its lower end by a bearing '63 through which the shaft 46 passes. Theoperation of the device is as follows:-

seat l6 and with the feet operates the pedals 20. This causes the shaft l9 to rotate. This rotation istransmitted, first to the shaft 24 andthen to the shaft 42 and to the front shaft 46. The .rotations ofthe shafts 24 and 46serve to move the hind leg levers and the front leg levers so that the legs move and bend.

The levers 21. are pivotally mounted about the points 28. Theuppr ends of the levers will be oscillated by the cranks 25 and the links 26. This will cause the lower endsof the levers 21 totravel through specific arcs. This motion is transmitted to the levers 3| which cause the lower portions or the hind legs to swing in arcs. The legs will make some progress forwards upon theground during the swinging operation and also the swinging or bending of the legswill produce a gymnastic motion, up and down.

The rotationsfrom the front shaft 46 will serve vtoos cillate the levers 5|. These levers pivot about the points' 52.' The upper ends of the levers 5l are moved by the cranks 47 and the 56 will restrain the amplilinks 48. The links tude of the motion of thejevers 5| and will cause a bending of the flexible frame 55. This will cause the le'gs to move longitudinally. The flexible frame 55 is formed with top bends to facilitate the flexibility thereof. The pivoting of the leve'r's 5| 'will cause the front legs to pivot correspondingly. The pivoting of the levers5l willbe somewhat modified by the pivoting of the levers 53 which pivots substantially similar to thepivoting of the levers 5|. 1

The rods 35 and 59 will serve to either retard or deflect or bend. the hoofs relative to the legs.

Thus, there will be a separate hoof action which 1 corresponds with a toe movement. The front legs will swing in arcs and bend, which will cause the front part ofthe figure to sway and move.

I The animal, during the gymnastics," will make progress forward since it is restrained by the ratchets"31 against rearward motion.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred embodiment of my invention, it is to be understood that. Ido 1 not limit myself to the precise construction herein disclosed and the right is reserved to all changes andmodifications coming within the scope of the invention as frame mounted within said figure and consisting of rigid front and rigid rear sections swivelly connected at the neck portion of the figure so a that theneck portion may bend to steer the.

device, a handle connected with the front frame section, a seat for a person mounted on the rear frame section, a drive shaft on the rear frame section, foot pedals for turning said drive shaft,

a transverse rear .crank shaft mounted on said frame, a transverse front crank shaft mounted on said frame, drive means for connecting .the drive, shaft with the rear shaft, drive means for connecting said rear and front drive shafts and including a flexible coupling at the junction of the front and rear frame sections, and a leverage system for bending and moving the front and rear legs operated from said front and rear shafts, casters being mounted upon the bottoms of the legs of the figure, and ratchets'being arranged on the bottom of the legs in the vicinity of the casters to restrain rear motion of the legs.

2. A mechanical animal, comprising a hollow animalfigure'of rigid material and having the legs "thereof flexibly jointed;

neck portions and V a frame mounted within said figure and consisting of rigid front and rigid rearsections swivelly connected at the neck portionof the figure so that the neck portion may bend tosteer the device, a handle connectedwith the front: frame section, a seat for a pe'rson mounted on the"rear frame section, a drive shaft on'the' rear frame section, foot pedals for turning said drive'shaft, a transverse rear crank shaft mounted on said frame, a transverse front crank shaftmounted on said frame, drive means for connecting the drive shaft with the rear shaft, drive means for connecting said rear and front drive shafts and including a flexible coupling at the junction of thefront, and rear frame sections, and 'a leverage system for bending and moving the front and rear legs operated from said front and rear shafts, including a ratchet arm mounted on said frame and extending into the hind legs, pivoted hind leg levers mounted upon the frame and having upper ends with said cranks, the lower ends of said levers being connected with levers pivotally mounted on braces and their upper ends, the lower ends" of the latter levers being connected with the, legs.

. 3. A mechanical animal, comprising a hollow animal figure of rigid material and having the neck portion and legs thereof flexibly jointed, a frame mounted'within said figure and consisting actuated by links connected of rigid front and rigid rear sections swivelly connectedat the that the neck portion'may bend to steer the device, a handle connected with the front frame section, a seat for a person mounted on the rear frame section, a drive shaft on the. rear frame section, foot pedals for turning said drive shaft, a transverse rear crank shaft mounted on said frame, a transverse front'cr'ank shaft'mounted on'saidframe, drive means for connecting the drive shaft with therear shaft, drive means for connecting said rear and front drive shafts and includinga flexible coupling at the'junction of the frontaand rear frame sections, and a lever neck portion of the figure so age system for bending and moving the front and rear legs operated from said front and rear shafts, including a ratchet arm mounted on said frame and extending into hind legs, pivoted hind leg levers mounted upon the frame and having upper ends actuated by links connected with said cranks, the lower ends of said levers being connected with levers pivotally mounted on braces and their upper ends, the lower ends of the latter levers connected with the legs, and

rods connected with said braces and with hoof portions of the legs.

4. A mechanical animal, comprising a hollow animal figure of rigid material and having the neck portion and legs thereof flexibly jointed, a frame mounted within said figure and consisting of rigid front and rigid rear sections swivelly connected at the neck portion of the figure so that the neck portion may bend to steer the device, a handle connected with the front frame section, a seat for a person mounted on the rear frame section, a drive shaft on the rear frame section, foot pedals for turning said drive shaft, a transverse rear crank shaft mounted on said frame, a transverse front crank shaft mounted on said frame, drive means for connecting the drive shaft with the rear shaft, drive means for connecting said rear and front drive shafts and including a flexible coupling at the junction of the front and rear frame sections, and a leverage system for bending and moving the front and rear legs operated from said front and rear shafts, including a flexible frame mounted upon the front frame section, levers pivotally supported on the front frame section and oscillated by links connected with the front cranks, said levers extending downwards into the front legs and pivotally connected with other levers pivotally supported on said flexible frame.

5. A mechanical animal, comprising a hollow animal figure of rigid material and having the neck portion and legs thereof flexibly jointed, a frame mounted within said figure and consisting of rigid front and rigid rear sections swivelly connected at the neck portion 'of the figure so that the neck portion may bend to steer the device, a handle connected with the front frame section, a seat for a person mounted on the rear frame section, a drive shaft on the rear frame section, foot pedals for turning said drive shaft, a transverse rear crank shaft mounted on said frame, a transverse front crank shaft mounted on said frame, drive means for connecting the drive shaft with the rear shaft, drive means for connecting said rear and front drive shafts and including a flexible coupling at the junction of the front and rear frame sections, and a leverage system for bending and moving the front and rear legs operated from said front and rear shafts, including a flexible frame mounted upon the front frame section, levers pivotally supported on the front frame section and oscillated by links connected with the front cranks, said levers extending downwards into the front legs'and pivotally connected with other levers pivotally supported on said flexible frame, and rods connected with the hoof portions of the front legs and with braces connected with said flexible frame.

JOSEF KURELIC. 

